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posted by cmn32480 on Monday January 08 2018, @03:34PM   Printer-friendly
from the 1-in-365,214,231-chance-of-getting-the-good-stuff dept.

Loot boxes in video games give the player a random item, perhaps a weapon or a skin, typically in exchange for payment. Should they be viewed as a legal sweepstakes or as an illegal lottery? This video examines the legal issues and explains how loot boxes could be structured to avoid running afoul of gambling laws (which vary by state) in the U.S.. The video concludes that many current implementations of loot boxes are really illegal lotteries, and conjectures that major game companies use them anyway because the risk of being prosecuted isn't enough to dissuade them.

Previously: Belgium Moving to Ban "Loot Boxes" Throughout Europe, Hawaii Could Restrict Sale to Minors


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  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by khallow on Monday January 08 2018, @07:59PM (3 children)

    by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Monday January 08 2018, @07:59PM (#619660) Journal

    I get the liberty part but happiness, in gambling?

    Yes. People gamble by choice. It's not your place to decide what they should try to make themselves happy.

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  • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Tuesday January 09 2018, @01:49AM (2 children)

    by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday January 09 2018, @01:49AM (#619820) Journal

    And you are happy to let your underage kids gamble because this makes them happy?
    Because those loot boxes are sold to kids - some would say, mainly to kids.

    --
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
    • (Score: 1) by Barenflimski on Tuesday January 09 2018, @05:21AM

      by Barenflimski (6836) on Tuesday January 09 2018, @05:21AM (#619875)
      Kids gamble daily with the choices they make. Will mom and dad be happy? Will I get in trouble? Did I do it right? When they are old enough to make their own money, they can then be taught how to spend it. Then they can make their own decisions.
    • (Score: 1) by khallow on Tuesday January 09 2018, @07:16AM

      by khallow (3766) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday January 09 2018, @07:16AM (#619897) Journal

      And you are happy to let your underage kids gamble because this makes them happy?

      It would be vastly better than having Big Nanny tell me how to raise my kids. The loot box scheme can be quite educational so yes, I would permit this as long as they control their spending.